The bill would require an abortionist to notify a parent before performing an abortion on a minor who resides in a different state, with narrow exceptions. It would also make it a crime for a non-parent to transport a minor across state lines to evade a parental notification law.

NRLC originally helped develop the bill in 2005. It passed the House of Representatives in 2005 and again in 2006, but died in the Senate when most Democratic senators supported a filibuster.

In a February 12 letter urging senators to co-sponsor the new bill, NRLC said, “Parental notification or parental consent laws, consistent with existing Supreme Court case law, are in effect in more than half the states. However, these laws are often circumvented — activity that is actively encouraged by abortion clinics’ out-of-state advertising in non-notification states, highlighting the avoidance of parental notification as a selling point. Only Congress has the authority to deal with this interstate activity, and the CIANA would do so.”

In an interview released today with David Brody of The Brody File, Christian Broadcasting Network, Senator Rubio said, “This issue of life is a fundamental issue. It’s not a political issue. For me it’s not about denying anybody the right to do anything. I’m not in the business of going around denying people what they want to do with their bodies or with their lives. This is about protecting people, human beings who maybe can’t speak yet and haven’t been born, perhaps don’t have a name or a social security number but they’re fully human nonetheless. They’re valuable and they’re precious and they deserve to be protected.”

Senator Rubio also told Brody, “This is never going to be a political issue for me. I don’t care if it (the vote) is 90-10 or 99-1, the fundamental issue of life is one that I will never change my opinion on.”

In the House of Representatives, the CIANA will be re-introduced by Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL). During the 2011-2012 Congress, her bill gathered 172 cosponsors in the House.

NRLC Legislative Director Douglas Johnson commented, “The CIANA would do much to protect the rights of parents and the welfare of their minor daughters, and we commend Senator Rubio and Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen for pursuing this vital legislation.”

For the latest information on good and bad bills introduced in Congress, make frequent visits to the NRLC Legislative Action Center at http://www.capwiz.com/nrlc/home/